A questioner in a comfortable financial situation asks whether he may give zakah to his poor full brother who does not pray.
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The questioner : I have a full brother who is poor. Is it permissible for me to give him from the zakah of my wealth, even though he does not pray, while I am wealthy, praise be to Allah?
The Shaykh : If your brother never prays, neither in the mosque nor at home, do not give him from your zakah, because he is an apostate from Islam. However, if you condition him to return to his religion and pray, then give him first as voluntary charity to reconcile him to Islam and encourage him in it. Then, if he becomes upright and his affairs proceed in a satisfactory manner, give him from your zakah. If he has no children and you are his sole heir, it is obligatory for you to provide for his financial maintenance from your own wealth, not from the zakah.
The Shaykh : If your brother never prays, neither in the mosque nor at home, do not give him from your zakah, because he is an apostate from Islam. However, if you condition him to return to his religion and pray, then give him first as voluntary charity to reconcile him to Islam and encourage him in it. Then, if he becomes upright and his affairs proceed in a satisfactory manner, give him from your zakah. If he has no children and you are his sole heir, it is obligatory for you to provide for his financial maintenance from your own wealth, not from the zakah.